Closure for collapsible tubes



July 15, 1930. A. E. SMITH CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed April 14 1926 a Si Q A I NVENTOR. ARTHUR 5. SMITH Q1 TTORXEY.

Patented July 15, 1930 TEUR QMIT, :03 L ANG'; i.

CLQSURE FOB CQLLALSLE TUB s, isomers application filed April it, 1926. Serial Blo. 101,907.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing plastic materials.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved closure for collapsible 5 tubes.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved closure for a collapsible tube wherein the closure includes an automatic valve.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a closure cap for collapsible tubes wherein the cap is made of rubber which has a valve slit cut therein after the cap is vulcanized.

. An additional object of the invention is to provide a threaded rubber cap having a peripheral fin for engaging the end of a collapsible tube.

Other objects of the invention will be aparent from the following description taen in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View showing the use of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view partly in elevation showing my improved cap; Fig. .3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve open; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of my improved cap Fig. 5 is a front end view of the cap; Fig. '6 is an end View; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a slight modification of my improved cap; Fig. 8 is an end view of a further modification; Fig. 9 is a section on line- 9-9, Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional and end views respectively of an additional modification;

and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another modification.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention in connection with a collapsible tube shown at 10. In the followingdescription, I will describe my invention as used in connection with 001- lapsible tubes and particularly for the purpose of dispensing dental preparations, although it will be understood that the device is not limited to this particular use, but may be used in dispensin other plastic substances which flow more or less freely and which are not sticky and which do not coa ulate.

Referring again to the drawing, the 001- lapslble tube is provided with a conical end portion 11 having a collar-l2 integral therewith. This collar 12 is provided with external threads 14, as is usually the case.

A closure embodying the features of my 00 invention is shown generally at 15. It comprises a body having an annular portion 16 and an end portion 17. The closure is provided with internal threads which mate with the-threads 14 previously described. The an nular portion 16 is beveled as at 18 and this beveled portion provides a fin 19 which is. highly flexible and which engages the adjacent portion of the conical end portion 11 to seal the closure tightly when in position.

The closure is shown as provided with a transversely extending boss 20. This boss is so arranged as to provide a transverse cavity 21 adjacent the inner face of the boss, as clearly shown at 21 in Figs. 2 and 4.

The closure is preferably made of a good grade of rubber and is vulcanized to provide the desired elastic properties. After the rubber is vulcanized, a sl1t 22 is cut through the boss in any desired manner. This slit extends longitudinally of the boss 20 and is preferably of a length equal to the length of the cavity 21.. l

In using the device the tube 10 is brought near a brush 25 and the tube 10 is then squeezed, thus causing the dental cream to pass through the valve slit 22 onto the brush. As soon as the pressure is removed, the valve automatically closes, due to the rigidity of I the walls of the boss and the associated parts and the slight amount of dental cream re maining in the slit is forced out due to the inherent resilient properties of the boss, so that a tight seal is provided for the cream remaining within the tube. 4 Y

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a slight modification wherein the end portion of the closure is provided with a cylindrical boss 26 instead of with a transverse boss as previously described. This cylindrical boss is provided with a slit 27 and the operation is the same as that previously described.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown the end 30 of the colla sible tube 10 as provided with a neck 31-w llCll has a peripheral groove 32 thereon. The cap is shown at 33 and is provided with a peri heral head 34 which fits the roove 32. he cap may have a fin 35 similar to the fin 19 previously described. The cap 33 is shown as provided with a boss 36 which has aslit 37 therein. The operation of this cap is also similar in all res ects to those previously described.

In i s. 10 and 11, I have shown the end of the co lapsible tube 10 at 38. This tube has a collar 39 thereon with a peripheral groove 40 and the cap 41 has a perip eral head 42 which fits the roove 40. The outer surface of the end of 5m closure 41 is in the nature of a relatively fiat cone and this cone is slitted as at 42 to rovide a valve 0 ening. The operation of this modification is t e same as those previously described.

In Fig. 12 a collapsible tube is shown at 43 havin a neck 44 which has threads 45 thereclosure member is indicated at 46. This member is made of rubber and has a thickened end portion 47 which has a valve slit 48 therein. The cap has an end flange 49 thereon which fits against the neck 44 and is engaged by the retaining ring 50 which has a threaded sleeve 51 thereon which engages the threads 45. When the ring 50 is turned to position it will tightly hold the closure 46 against the end 44 of the tube 43. The modification functions in the same manner as those previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have rovided an improved closure for tubes containing plastic, free flowin materials, which closure can be economica ly manufactured and is highly efficient in use, and which satisfies the conditions necessar to produce a sanitary device.

Idaving' thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A colla sible tube comprising a body havin a nec said neck being provided with p a peripheral groove therein, an end closure fitted over said neck, said end closure being made of rubber and having a bead thereon fitting said groove, said closure having a thickened boss thereon, said boss having a slit cut therein, said slit serving as a valve, said closignature.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

sure having a fin thereon engaging the end of said tube.

2. A closure cap for a collapsible tube, comprising a body including an annular portion and an end portion extending across said annular portion, said end portion having a transverse cavity therein communicating with the interior of said annular portion, said end portion having a protuberance thereon and a slit extending longitudinally of said protuberance and cavity. 

